Hamas members tell NYT they hope for ‘permanent’ war, do not care about running Gaza

In interviews with the New York Times, Hamas higher-ups say their goal with the attacks on October 7 was to “change the entire equation” and renew attention on the Palestinian cause, in the words of Khalil al-Hayya, a member of the terror group’s politburo in Qatar.

“What could change the equation was a great act, and without a doubt, it was known that the reaction to this great act would be big,” he says. “We had to tell people that the Palestinian cause would not die.”

Al-Hayya and other Hamas members quoted dismiss the idea that they want to govern Gaza, instead expressing support for endless conflict.

“I hope that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders, and that the Arab world will stand with us,” Hamas media consultant Taher El-Nounou is quoted telling the paper.

“Hamas’s goal is not to run Gaza and to bring it water and electricity and such,” says al-Hayya.

“This battle was not because we wanted fuel or laborers,” he adds. “It did not seek to improve the situation in Gaza. This battle is to completely overthrow the situation.”